idée fixe
/iː.deɪ ˈfiːks/
"idee-fixe" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“idée fixe” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An idea dominating the mind and maintained despite evidence to the contrary; (loosely), an obsession.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | idée fixe |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /iː.deɪ ˈfiːks/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “idée fixe” sits in English frequency
Rare enough to double-check
idée fixe is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /iː.deɪ ˈfiːks/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
No misspelling variants are generated for idée fixe in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French idée fixe (literally “fixed idea”). The correct English form is idée fixe, spelled I-D-É-E- -F-I-X-E.
Definition
- 1An idea dominating the mind and maintained despite evidence to the contrary; (loosely), an obsession.
- 2A recurring musical theme; a leitmotif.
Etymology
Borrowed from French idée fixe (literally “fixed idea”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “idée fixe”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is I-D-É-E- -F-I-X-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /iː.deɪ ˈfiːks/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.